Multiple-pivoted-jaw pipe wrench with interchangeable object-embracing bushings



May 1,

1951 J. R. BRINKLEY 2,550,963

MULTIPLE-PIVOTED-JAW PIPE WRENCH WITH INTERCHANGEABLE K OBJECT-EMBRACING BUSHINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3, 1950 INVENTOR.

JAM ES R. B RINK LEY A 1 TO RNE-YS May 1, 1951 Filed March 3, 1950 J. R. BRINKLEY MULTIPLE-PIVQTED-JAW PIPE WRENCH WITH INTERCHANGEABLE OBJECT-EMBRACING BUSHINGS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

JAME's R. BRINKLEY ATTORNEYS Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE-PIVOTED-JAW PIPE WRENCH WITH INTERCHANGEABLE OBJECT-EM- BRACING BUSHINGS 2 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in a multiple-pivoted-j aw pipe wrench with interchangeable object-embracing bushings. It consists of the combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

It is a well-known fact that when ordinary pipe wrenches, such as the Stillson, are applied to pipes, the surfaces of the pipes are marred and roughened to an appreciable extent. The same is true when these wrenches are used for gripping rods, shafts, etc. Moreover, thin-walled pipes often are crushed or distorted when they are turned by conventional pipe wrenches.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a wrench adapted to grip pipes, rods and the like, without marring the gripped surface, or crushing the object during turning thereof.

More specifically stated, I provide a wrench having coacting jaws provided with smooth bearing surfaces, which are shaped to embrace sections of the object to be gripped. These surfaces are designed to distribute the compressive force of the jaws over a relatively wide area thereby precluding crushing of the object. Inasmuch as the gripping surfaces of the jaws are smooth, no marring of the object will result.

A still further object is to provide a wrench of the character described, which is provided with interchangeable object-embracing bushings. These bushings are designed to bear against objects of various sizes, and serve to spread the compressive force over the gripped area. It is an easy matter to change the bushings so that the jaws will be provided with the proper size bushings to fit an object to be gripped.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a wrench that may be applied around an object in a rather crowded place, and which will grip the object just as soon as the operating handle of the wrench is moved by the operator. It is wellknown that a Stillson wrench, for instance, is so constructed that the handle thereof must be moved through a considerable are before the jaws are brought into gripping relation with "the object. oftentimes, this are of lost motion takes up all of the room available in which the wrench can be operated.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The'novel features of the invention will be set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

- Drawings For a better understandingof my invention,

reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my wrench;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an end view of the complementary bushings disclosed in Figures 2 and 3;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of one of the bushings;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of my wrench with the several parts thereof opened up and arranged in substantially straight alignment with one another.

Figures '7 and 8 are isometric views of the pair of coacting jaws that I employ; and

Figure 9 is an end view of another set of complementary bushings.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description In carrying my invention into practice, I provide a wrench having a pair 0f coa-cting jaws indicated generally at A and B. The jaws are adapted to be moved into confronting relation with one another, as seen in Figure 2, so as to be arranged on opposite sides of an object C to be gripped.

These jaws are fashioned with substantially semi-cylindrical saddles ill on their confronting faces, which define smooth object-embracing bearing surf-aces ll. Openings !2 in the saddles extend from thesurfaces II to exposed portions of thejaws for the purpose presently to be described.

As clearly shown in Figures 2, 3 and 6, substantially semi-cylindrical bushings Dare disposed in the saddles l0 and bear against the surfaces I I thereof. These bushings have bifurcated pins [4 anchored thereto, with the split ends of the pins projecting through the openings l2 for removably retaining the bushings in their respective saddles. These pins frictionally engage with the walls of the openings l2 through which they are inserted. It obvious that a screw driver, or the like, may be used for spreading the bifurcated ends of the pins to produce the proper friction. The outer exposed ends of the pins may be tapped with a suitable instrument to aid in the removal of the bushings,

It will be noted that links l5 swingably interconnect rear portions of the jaws. These links allow the jaws to be swung from closed position, as in Figure 2, into fully opened position, as in Figure 6. Other links [6 are hingedly secured by a pin I! to a forward part of the jaw B. A lever handle E, which may be made of any desired length, is pivoted by a pin i8 of the forward links.

Referring to Figures 2, 6 and 7, I provide a lug 19 on the forward. end of the jaw A. The end 20 of the handle E is adapted to overlie the lug Hi. When the end 20 of the handle is-arranged over the lug !9, as in Figure 2, and the-handle is swung in the direction of the arrow 2!, the jaws A and B are forced toward one another to grip the interposed object C.

In this connection the bushings D are designed to grip the object C immediately upon swinging the handle E in a direction to force the jaws toward each other. However, upon swinging the handle in the opposite-direction, as-suggested by the arrowZZ, the bushings will release their grip on the interposed object.

When gripping a larger object-than the one shown in Figure2, the bushings D may be omitted. In this event, the semi cylindrical bearing surface ll maybe utilized for gripping this larger object. On the other hand; the bushings D' (see Figure 9) may be-applied tothesaddles H3 in order to grip asrnaller, object C. Of course, interchangeable bushings of various sizes; may be provided. In any case, the compressive force will be. applied to the, gripped obj ect, over a large area, preventing crushing or marring of the object during use of the wrench.

A-spring latch'F'isanchoreduto the jaw A by any suitable .means, for instance countersunk screws 23. 'The'free end of this latch has a hook 224 thereon, which is engageable-with'a tooth 25 formed on the lever handleE adjacent to the end 2% of the handle. This ,latch retains the handle end 26] in engagement withthe lug i9 during swinging of the handle. However, the hook may be disengaged manually from the tooth at which time the. handle E, links and E6, and

jaws A and B can be moved into substantially straight alignment with one;an0the1;as disclosed in Figure 6.

summary of operation ;In settingup the wrench for gripping an objechsuch as indicated at (Lin Figure 1, the set of bushings D is selected that will conform to the exteriorsurface of this object. The bifurcated :ends of the pins are inserted through the openings !2 of the saddles l8, and the outer surfacesof the bushings ;moved upagainst the smoothbearing surfaces l i of the saddles.

The various parts of the Wrench may be moved into substantially horizontal alignment with one another as illustratedin Figure 6. As a matter .of fact, the parts may be folded backwards even further. The jaws A and B are applied around :opposite sides of the object C to be gripped. Thereafter, the jaws are moved toward one-another until the bushings contact with opposing sections of the object C.

Next, the lever handle E is moved until its end ;2il overlies the; lug l9 and the hook 2d of the spring latch F is engaged over the tooth 25. Upon moving:the handle in the direction of the arrow "2!, the objectC will be gripped,;and further :movement ofthe handle in thisdirection-wfll jresultinturning the object. When the handle is moved in the direction of the .arrowsa22, the

4 grip of the bushings on the object will be released.

The links I5 and 16 will permit the jaws A and B to shift lengthwise of one another until the bushings D center themselves relative to the object to be gripped. The smooth inner surfaces 2% of the bushings will not mar the object; and will distribute the compressive force of the jaws over a larger area, preventing crushing of the ripped object.

The fact that the jaws may be opened into, or beyond, the positions shown in Figure 6, will allowthe jaws to be inserted around an object disposed in a rather crowded place. As soon as the handle E of the applied wrench is moved in the direction of the arrow 2!, the object will be gripped withoutappreciable lost motion of the handle.

When disengaging the wrench, the hook 24 is lifted above the tooth .25. At this time the jaws may be moved apart, freeing them from the object. -The-interchangeable bushings will allow a large range of-various sizes of objects to be gripped by-rny wrench. Obviously, the wrenches may be madein different sizes, depending upon the objects to be gripped and turned. The wrench may be. applied to objects, or removed therefrom, with facility-and ease.

I claim:

; 1. In a wrench of the character described uper and lower coacting jawsmovableinto con- 'IlOl'ltil'lg relation-with one another and having gripping surfaces arranged to be positioned on opposite, sides of 'an object to be gripped; links swingably interconnecting -rear portions of the jaws; a pair of spaced-apart links hingedly secured to a forward part of the lower jaw; a lug disposed onthe forward end of the upper jaw, and being insertable between the forward pair of links; a lever handle-pivoted to and disposed between-the forward links, and having a prying end disposed to overlie and'engage-with the lug for forcing the jaws toward-each other when the handle is swung in a predetermined direction about its pivot; the forwardlinks straddling the lug and handle to preclude lateral slippage of the lug and prying end of the handle rela- 'tive to one another; the handle having a tooth inthe upper surface of its prying end; and a spring latchextendin generally lengthwise of the upper jaw and having one end thereof fixed to the upper jaw the spring latch having a free end provided with a hook engageable over the tooth to prevent the jaws from falling apart a 'duringoscillation of the jaws about the object;

the spring latch havinga set to maintain the prying endofthe handle inengagement with the lug during swinging of the handle; the rear andiront links being pivoted to the jaws for free shifting of the jaws lengthwise relative to one another for centering the gripping surfaces 7 of the jaws on the object.

2. In a wrench of the character described: a jaw-defining-abody portion, and a saddle having parts projecting laterally beyond opposite sides of this body portion; the saddle having a semicylindrical bushing-receiving surface on its underneath side; the laterally-projecting parts of the saddle having exposed upper surfaces; the saddlebeing fashioned with openings extending from the;under neath to the upper exposed surfaces thereof; a semi-cylindrical;bushing removably abutting the bushing-receiving surface of the saddle; and pins-anchored to the bushing zan yh ns b rcatedrends :f ictio l yen ing with the walls of the openings to retain the bushing in the saddle; these pins having upper ends exposed and extending above the upper surfaces of the laterally-projecting parts of the from the saddle.

JAMES R. BRINKLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Parmelee Mar. 6, 1888 Stroope Apr. 1, 1913 Allison et a1 Mar. 14, 1916 McCloud et a1 Dec. 25, 1923 Yount July 1, 1924 Clarke Mar. 31, 1925 Butt Feb. 7, 1928 Wilson Feb. 28, 1928 

